1st Advantage MortgageThe median Marion County household earns $59,371, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Marion County
- What Marion County households earn
- Renting and owning in Marion County
- The Marion County job picture
- The communities that make up Marion County
- Marion County next to its neighbors
- A Marion County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Marion County
- Marion County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Marion County residents
- Four steps for Marion County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Marion County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Marion County's population at 65,020; only 37 of Ohio's 88 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 404 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 161 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Marion County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Marion County, Marion leads by population with about 35,669; 8 of the 8 are incorporated.
What Marion County households earn
The median household income in Marion County is $59,371; statewide it is $71,389, so Marion County runs 17% below Ohio as a whole. That places it 67th among Ohio's 88 county-level areas.
| Household income | Marion County | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.3% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.8% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -5.0 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 16.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). None of these numbers decides a Marion County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Marion County
A typical Marion County rental runs $864 a month including utilities, which is 16% below Ohio. By the Census definition, 48% of Marion County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $156,800, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 67% of homes.
| Home costs | Marion County | Ohio | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $864/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,800 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 3.4% | n/a |
The Marion County job picture
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Marion County residents work in education and health care and 22% in manufacturing. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward manufacturing (22% against 15%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Marion County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.9% of the total (7.5% statewide).
| Sector | Marion County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.5% | +6.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -3.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Marion County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Marion County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 39,632 residents, leaving about 39% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. La Rue has the highest median household income on the list ($75,156) and Marion the lowest ($47,951), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $482 in La Rue to $1,072 in Prospect. No Marion County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | city | 35,669 | $47,951 | $856 | 2 mi |
| Prospect | village | 1,157 | $70,833 | $1,072 | 9 mi |
| La Rue | village | 725 | $75,156 | $482 | 11 mi |
| Green Camp | village | 437 | $56,250 | $775 | 4 mi |
| New Bloomington | village | 430 | $25,250 | $962 | 8 mi |
| Morral | village | 423 | $51,563 | $775 | 7 mi |
| Caledonia | village | 421 | $69,792 | $742 | 11 mi |
| Waldo | village | 370 | $64,519 | $917 | 10 mi |
Marion County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Marion County's, from 19 to 26 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Marion County; Delaware County is highest at $133,540 and Crawford County lowest at $58,044.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $59,371 | $864/mo | 67% |
| Wyandot County, OH | 19 mi | $69,768 | $827/mo | 74% |
| Morrow County, OH | 20 mi | $75,283 | $937/mo | 81% |
| Crawford County, OH | 22 mi | $58,044 | $794/mo | 73% |
| Union County, OH | 23 mi | $112,322 | $1,247/mo | 79% |
| Delaware County, OH | 23 mi | $133,540 | $1,492/mo | 79% |
| Hardin County, OH | 26 mi | $62,484 | $793/mo | 75% |
A Marion County household budget, worked through
Here is the Marion County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,948 gross per month ($59,371 / 12)
- Less median rent of $864, which is 17% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $917 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $864, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Marion County
Where the Marion County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Marion County borrower sees (free reports).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Marion County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Marion County households compared
15% of Marion County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Marion County | Ohio | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.7% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Marion County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Who licenses lenders for Marion County residents
Marion County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Ohio state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Marion County borrowers
Steps that save money for Marion County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Marion County?
$59,371 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 67th of 88 in the state.
How does Marion County rent compare with Ohio?
$864 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 16% below.
I live in a small Marion County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Marion, Prospect, La Rue, Green Camp, New Bloomington and 3 more.
Will a Marion County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Ohio as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Marion County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Ohio it is the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions.